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Newcastle cry foul as Senegal stop Cisse playing

LONDON, England, November 17 – Newcastle United said they were “dismayed and angry” after the Senegalese football federation blocked striker Papiss Cisse from playing in the club’s league game with Swansea City on Saturday.

Cisse did not play in Senegal’s friendly with Niger on Wednesday due to injury and the Senegalese federation subsequently contacted world governing body FIFA to prevent him for turning out for his club.

Cisse’s club and international colleague Demba Ba also missed the 1-1 draw in Niger through injury, but he was named in Newcastle’s starting line-up to face Swansea.

“Newcastle United is dismayed and angry at the position adopted by the Senegalese federation, and supported by FIFA, which means that Papiss Cisse is unable to play any part in today’s Premier League fixture against Swansea City,” read a statement published on the Newcastle website on Saturday.

“The club was not prepared to allow Papiss to travel to Niger as this would have been detrimental to his clinical condition.

“In accordance with FIFA regulations, the club was more than happy for the player to be examined in England by a doctor of the federation’s choice in order to validate the player’s medical condition.

“The federation did not take this option and instead contacted FIFA to ask them to apply the regulation that effectively prevents Papiss from playing this weekend.

“It is the opinion of the club that it is wrong and wholly unjust for a national association to behave in this manner and for FIFA to endorse their stance and automatically apply the sanction without taking into account the specific facts of the case.”

Newcastle went on to accuse the Senegalese federation of having “an agenda against Papiss and/or Newcastle United, possibly as a reaction to the club’s decision earlier this year not to allow Papiss to participate in the London Olympics 2012”.

The club also said they would be considering legal action against the Senegalese federation and FIFA.

“I am deeply disappointed by the actions of my federation, which have punished me and my club,” said Cisse.

“I love playing for my country and would only withdraw from a squad — for either a friendly or competitive game — for a genuine reason.

“I am fully supportive of the position my club has adopted in this matter and am sorry that the federation seem to doubt my honesty and integrity. I will now consider if I wish to continue to captain my country.”

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